Food Stampshttps://foodstamps.org
FoodStamps.org - Your Guide to Food StampsTue, 18 Dec 2018 19:38:44 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.9Who Can Get Food Stampshttps://foodstamps.org/who-can-get-food-stamps
https://foodstamps.org/who-can-get-food-stamps#respondWed, 01 Aug 2018 18:51:18 +0000https://foodstamps.org/?p=1682Anyone can apply for food stamps (commonly known as SNAP or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program). To get food stamps, you and the other people in your household must meet certain conditions: Everyone who is applying in your household must have or apply for a Social Security number and be either a U.S. citizen, U.S. national […]

]]>Anyone can apply for food stamps (commonly known as SNAP or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program). To get food stamps, you and the other people in your household must meet certain conditions: Everyone who is applying in your household must have or apply for a Social Security number and be either a U.S. citizen, U.S. national or have status as a qualified alien.

]]>https://foodstamps.org/who-can-get-food-stamps/feed0Food stamps in Alabamahttps://foodstamps.org/Blog/ID/116/food-stamps-in-alabama
https://foodstamps.org/Blog/ID/116/food-stamps-in-alabama#respondMon, 09 Jul 2018 14:51:02 +0000http://localhost/wordpress/?p=990The food stamps program is available in every state in the US but it is slightly different in each state. In Alabama, food stamps are formally called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)and offers nutrition through monthly benefits to individuals and families who qualify. The eligibility requirements are determined by the United States Department of Agriculture […]

]]>The food stamps program is available in every state in the US but it is slightly different in each state. In Alabama, food stamps are formally called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)and offers nutrition through monthly benefits to individuals and families who qualify. The eligibility requirements are determined by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and therefore will be the same for all states. Eligibility is usually determined by income compared to how many people are in the household and must survive on that income.

What are Food Stamps?

Food stamps aren’t a new concept in Alabama or the country by any means, though they have changed somewhat over the years. Food stamps, in general, are benefits offered to you and your family for purchasing food, milk, and seeds in order to feed your family nutritious meals. They used to be in the form of paper vouchers for the different food items you would be able to purchase for that month. However in the last few years, Alabama has switched to electronic benefits, via the electronic benefits transfer (EBT) card. This card works just like an ATM card where you can withdraw funds from an ATM machine or use the card at the grocery store. You have a list of foods you can purchase with the EBT card, such as fruits and vegetables, bread, peanut butter, dairy products and meat. You can also buy seeds to grow your own produce for consumption.

Eligibility Requirements

All government programs have eligibility requirements and the SNAP food stamps program in Alabama is no exception. In order to qualify for food stamps in Alabama, you must meet certain eligibility requirements, such as being low income or having a disability. As of 2012, your annual income must be less than $14,079 for one person, $18,941 for two people, and so on. The more people in your household, the higher the income limit is because there are more mouths to feed. You can earn up to $48,113 a year and still get food stamps if you have 8 or more people in your household. Aside from the income requirements, you might be eligible in other ways such as being pregnant or having a disability that keeps you from being able to work. Alabama’s SNAP program also requires you to either be a US citizen or a legal non-US citizen. If you came into the country illegally and can’t verify your current eligibility status, you won’t be permitted to receive food stamps.

Applying for Food Stamps in Alabama

Alabama offers a variety of different ways to apply for the SNAP food stamps program. The quickest and easiest ways to apply are online or over the phone. However you can also apply by mail, in person or by fax if you prefer. You will need to have access to the application and send it to your local County Department of Human Resources (DHR) office to be processed. They will review the information and contact you if your family qualifies for benefits.

]]>https://foodstamps.org/Blog/ID/116/food-stamps-in-alabama/feed0Food Stamps in Californiahttps://foodstamps.org/Blog/ID/115/food-stamps-in-california
https://foodstamps.org/Blog/ID/115/food-stamps-in-california#respondMon, 09 Jul 2018 14:50:37 +0000http://localhost/wordpress/?p=988In California, there is the same food stamps program that the rest of the country has, but in California it is called CalFresh. It is known as an entitlement program because people using the food stamps must meet certain eligibility requirements in order to be approved for it. Some requirements include having a low income and either […]

]]>In California, there is the same food stamps program that the rest of the country has, but in California it is called CalFresh. It is known as an entitlement program because people using the food stamps must meet certain eligibility requirements in order to be approved for it. Some requirements include having a low income and either be actively looking for work or unable to work. Monthly benefits from the food stamps program in California will provide low income families with the food and nutrients their family needs. They can only be used for food items and not alcoholic beverages, household items, or tobacco.

What are Food Stamps?

Food stamps, or the CalFresh program as it is now called in California, is a program offering benefits to families in need of nutritious meals. There are also certain foods and items you will be able to purchase with your food stamps, including fruits and vegetables, dairy products, meat, bread, peanut butter, cereal and seeds to grow your own produce. They used to be available with paper vouches but you will now be given an electronic benefits transfer (EBT) card which can only be used at certain places, such as grocery store and food marts. You will be given a set dollar amount of benefits each month to spend on these items only and get the same amount on the first of the following month. If you don’ use all of the benefits, the amount rolls over to the next month.

Program Requirements

CalFresh in California has certain eligibility requirements you must meet in order to qualify for the food stamps program. For example, your household can’t earn more than $28,665 a year for a family of four; the annual income limit varies depending on how many people are in your household. This is because the less people in your family, the less money you need to feed them healthy foods. Your current mortgage or rent, utilities and medical expenses are considered when determining eligibility, but optional bills like cell phones or cable are not.

How to Apply

If you want to apply for the food stamps program in California and you meet the above qualifications, you can do so in a number of ways. CalFresh lets you apply online, by phone, in person, by fax or by mail. You will need to fill out the application in full and include your person information, occupation if you have one, any disability, your age, how many people are in your family and their ages, and what your yearly income is. Send it to the address listed on the E-Benefits website if you decide to mail it in, otherwise the phone operator will let you know further instructions.

]]>https://foodstamps.org/Blog/ID/115/food-stamps-in-california/feed0Food Stamps in Floridahttps://foodstamps.org/Blog/ID/114/food-stamps-in-florida
https://foodstamps.org/Blog/ID/114/food-stamps-in-florida#respondMon, 09 Jul 2018 14:50:05 +0000http://localhost/wordpress/?p=986You may be familiar with the food stamps program in the US, but what you might not realize is that many states have renamed their food stamps program. In Florida, it is called the ACCESS program.ACCESS isn’t just restricted to food stamps but also provides cash assistance and medical assistance under the same program. Like food […]

]]>You may be familiar with the food stamps program in the US, but what you might not realize is that many states have renamed their food stamps program. In Florida, it is called the ACCESS program.ACCESS isn’t just restricted to food stamps but also provides cash assistance and medical assistance under the same program. Like food stamps in other states, individuals and families must meet certain qualifications to be approved for the ACCESS program such as being classified as very low income according to the income and number of people in the household.

What are Food Stamps?

Food stamps through the ACCESS program, let Florida residents feed their families from a choice of healthy foods. The program used to have paper vouchers but are now on a credit that you use like an ATM card. The food items you can purchase with food stamps are bread, peanut butter, cereal, meat, fruits and vegetables, dairy products, and seeds for planting your own produce. The electronic benefits transfer (EBT) card will only work on certain items, so be sure you are using it for the food items you really need to make healthy meals. It does not work on tobacco, alcohol, or household items that can’t be consumed.

Eligibility Requirements

Florida has certain eligibility requirements you and your family must meet before they will provide you with food stamps. The main requirement is your annual income before taxes and before paying your bills. The amount varies depending on how many people are in your family. For example, if it’s just you, you can’t earn more than $14,079 but it is more if you’re a couple or have children in the home. They will also base your eligibility on your ability to work and how much your rent or utility bills cost each month. If you have been granted eligibility based on Florida’s requirements, you can continue with the application process.

Applying for Food Stamps

The ACCESS food stamp program is easy to apply online, which is the preferred way due to the inconvenience on both sides. If you don’t have Internet access, you can apply by phone, in person, by mail or by fax. For mailing or faxing options, you will need to download and print the application for ACCESS and make sure you have the right physical address or fax number to send it to. Fill it out in full, not leaving anything out otherwise it is going to get sent back and you will need to fill it out again. You will be contacted shortly after sending in your application about whether or not you qualify for benefits.

]]>https://foodstamps.org/Blog/ID/114/food-stamps-in-florida/feed0Food Stamps in New Yorkhttps://foodstamps.org/Blog/ID/113/food-stamps-in-new-york
https://foodstamps.org/Blog/ID/113/food-stamps-in-new-york#respondMon, 09 Jul 2018 14:49:26 +0000http://localhost/wordpress/?p=984Food stamps in New York officially changed their name to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) as of August 2012. This new name is the same for the majority of the US, though some states have their own name for it, like CalFresh in California. For New York residents, SNAP is available with monthly electronic benefits transfer […]

]]>Food stamps in New York officially changed their name to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) as of August 2012. This new name is the same for the majority of the US, though some states have their own name for it, like CalFresh in California. For New York residents, SNAP is available with monthly electronic benefits transfer cards that can be used for withdrawal or at grocery stores to purchase food items, milk, formula, and other necessities for nutrition. The eligibility requirements are based on income, household size, assets and some other factors.

What are Food Stamps?

Food stamps aren’t stamps at all, but benefits offered to individuals, couples and families who are on a very limited income. It is in place to help you and your family eat nutritious foods on a limited budget. When food stamps were first developed in New York, there were paper vouchers that you could use for things such as milk, bread, meat, peanut butter or cereal. These foods can still be purchased, though now they are on an EBT card which is similar to an ATM card. Your balance show sup each month which can be used in full or during several grocery shopping trips. It will return again at the beginning of the next month.

How do I Qualify?

In order to get a food stamps EBT card, you will first need to meet the state’s eligibility requirements. You will need to be either a US citizen or a legal non-citizen, be disabled or actively looking for employment, and be considered low income based on your annual income and how many people are in your family. There are strict income limits that vary depending on how many people are in your home. For example, if the limit for 3 people is $18,000 but between you and your spouse, you earn $19,100, you aren’t going to qualify for food stamps. Verify your eligibility before taking the time to apply.

Application Process

To apply for the food stamps program in New York, first make sure you meet all of the above eligibility requirements. If so, you have a good chance of being accepted into the SNAP food stamps program. First, decide how you want to apply. The state of New York gives you many different options including applying online, in person, by phone, by mail or by fax. Choose whichever method is most convenient for you and read the application thoroughly before filling it in and sending it. You will need to fill it out in full and expect to show documentation for things like your income, citizenship, children or pregnancy, address and other personal information.

]]>https://foodstamps.org/Blog/ID/113/food-stamps-in-new-york/feed0Picking up Food Stamps in a Mercedes: Darlena’s Storyhttps://foodstamps.org/Blog/ID/12/picking-up-food-stamps-in-a-mercedes-darlenas-story
https://foodstamps.org/Blog/ID/12/picking-up-food-stamps-in-a-mercedes-darlenas-story#respondMon, 09 Jul 2018 14:46:38 +0000http://localhost/wordpress/?p=982Darlena Cunha is a writer who contributes mainly to the Huffington Post, but one of her latest articles was to the Washington Post. Topic? Her fall from the middle class, and what her experience was like to suddenly be without the security net she and her husband had carefully built for themselves. In her article, Darlena […]

]]>Darlena Cunha is a writer who contributes mainly to the Huffington Post, but one of her latest articles was to the Washington Post. Topic? Her fall from the middle class, and what her experience was like to suddenly be without the security net she and her husband had carefully built for themselves. In her article, Darlena details the steps that contributed to this fall, and the self-imposed shame she felt when she had to pick up food stamps for the first time – in a Mercedes.

Starting Life on a High Note

Darlena wasn’t at all what the stereotype of food stamps depicted: she grew up in a nice neighborhood where more people had the money to get by than didn’t. The concept of failure was a foreign one during her childhood, as she and her peers were used to getting by with what they needed and wanted. As a result, she had the opportunity to go to college because it was expected of her, not because it was seen as a way out, and studied biology and journalism.

She followed the traditional middle class life path after that, getting a decent job at a hospital, moving on to become an associate producer, and climbing the corporate ladder just as was expected given her upbringing. It helped, too, that she wasn’t the only one supporting herself; her boyfriend had a good job and they were set to plan a future together. And even when she became pregnant with twins, life still seemed more than manageable.

The Crash: Going from Everything to Almost Nothing

But just like that, Darlena’s future seemed to disappear from her in front of her very eyes, and she felt powerless to stop it. First came the steep drop in the value of her and her husband’s home because of the housing market crisis, where the value of their home plummeted to $150,000 from $240,000.

The next big hit the pair had to take was the premature births of their twins, with both arriving into the world at only 3lbs. No matter how dedicated Darlena and her husband were at feeding them, the girls just weren’t gaining weight and they faced a crisis: either continue breastfeeding them (a “free” option) and put their lives at risk, or switch to an expensive formula that would ensure the twins would gain weight and move forward. It was a no-brainer of a decision for Darlena, but the dozens of cans each week of formula quickly added up. It didn’t take them long to blow through their savings, leaving them in the precarious position of having to apply for Medicaid and WIC.

Driving There for the First Time

There are many stereotypes floating around about the Welfare Queen or the steak-and-lobster moochers who use their food stamps to sneakily continuing a life of luxury when so many others truly need the assistance. Using this context, it should be said that Darlena and her husband did have a Mercedes, but with several provisos: it was from before their new situation; the car had been fully paid off and selling it to pay for groceries would mean making payments on a car, a debt they couldn’t afford; and the Mercedes was in fine working condition, whereas a new “affordable” car might have to be replaced each year.

Even with that in mind, it doesn’t change the burning shame Darlena felt when she drove to the church to pick up assistance for the first time, and felt everyone’s eyes boring holes into her. Even worse was when she was standing in line at a supermarket, paying for root beer with coupons. A shopper behind her chastised her for her choice, but another shopper came to Darlena’s defense. “Who are you, the soda police?” the stranger said. “Anyone bother you about the pound of candy you’re buying?”

It Can Happen to Anyone

Darlena’s received a lot of feedback from her article, with opinions ranging from supportive to extremely critical. The ones who fall into the latter category accuse her of not really knowing what it’s like to be poor, of not selling her Mercedes, and of still having prospects for the future. But is that really fair? Should being poor have the same face everywhere? Should people like Darlena, who fall unexpectedly on hard times, have to suffer more than most because of their previous perch?

It took a lot of guts to bring even more attention to her story, which involves a Mercedes, but doing so helped shed more light on the issue and continue the conversation. It’s also a perfect example of how losing almost everything can happen to almost anyone, and a lesson in being more careful about judging people. It’s a smart idea to be careful of what you say to people who show up at food banks in a Mercedes, because one day, you could be behind the wheel.

]]>https://foodstamps.org/Blog/ID/12/picking-up-food-stamps-in-a-mercedes-darlenas-story/feed0Making the Most with Food Stampshttps://foodstamps.org/Blog/ID/44/making-the-most-with-food-stamps
https://foodstamps.org/Blog/ID/44/making-the-most-with-food-stamps#respondMon, 09 Jul 2018 14:46:07 +0000http://localhost/wordpress/?p=980The food assistance program has been criticized consistently for its small allowances. There doesn’t seem to be enough, according to the statistics that recently showed Americans on food stamps are getting an average of $1 a day to purchase items at groceries and farmer’s markets. In addition, food stamps can buy seeds, but these are […]

]]>The food assistance program has been criticized consistently for its small allowances. There doesn’t seem to be enough, according to the statistics that recently showed Americans on food stamps are getting an average of $1 a day to purchase items at groceries and farmer’s markets. In addition, food stamps can buy seeds, but these are a less immediate option than being able to purchase a healthy diet. And now there are legislators who are trying to limit what you can buy on a food stamp budget. The newest ideas for food stamps don’t seem to allow for a larger budget, though that is directly what’s needed to protect families from hunger.

In some states, the food stamp program is used by 40 percent of residents. In Nevada, a state with the highest unemployment, the numbers are high. Unemployed individuals account for the majority of those who require these benefits, though under most food stamp programs, you must be eligible for work. Those who currently receive food stamps may be surprised by coming budget cuts and proposed cuts for food stamp programs across the United States. That’s why it is important to plan out your grocery items before you go to the store, learning what items are on sale and what items are healthy, yet not expensive.

Critics of the nation’s grocery store pricing can show you how organic, natural and healthier food options are more expensive than junk food and other items rich in high fructose corn syrup and additives. Even when something is low-fat, it may not actually be actually or low in fat at all, because many low-fat products simply create other problems in your body. Those who have studied the food stamp program recommend that you stick to an abundance of natural foods, using lean meats and vegetables as the main items in your diet.

Farmer’s markets are another place to consider when buying food. In some cases, you can get amazing deals on fresh produce without paying the grocery store prices. The tip is to go later on in the day to catch farmers when they’re about to leave. At this time, you can find that farmers want to make money on food that will probably go bad in the next week. However, you also have to consider what you’ll make with this food and ensure that you have the time to prepare this food, so that it doesn’t go bad.

Making the most of your food stamp aid is mostly about budgeting. Food stamps are meant to be supplemental, which means that you still need to purchase some of your food items with your own money. If you create a strict budget, you can find ways to save a bit of money to use for other food items at the end of the month before the next installment of your food stamp funds. Of course, you should be continuing your search for other options and taking advantage of free food from community organizations, Church events and college activities.

]]>https://foodstamps.org/Blog/ID/44/making-the-most-with-food-stamps/feed0Fingerprints Required Again in California for Food Stampshttps://foodstamps.org/Blog/ID/42/fingerprints-required-again-in-california-for-food-stamps
https://foodstamps.org/Blog/ID/42/fingerprints-required-again-in-california-for-food-stamps#respondMon, 09 Jul 2018 14:45:36 +0000http://localhost/wordpress/?p=978A new legislation is circulating that is taking after New York legislation in New York City that requires fingerprinting for food stamps. The new law was put up from a Republican lawmaker and would change a law that was just created last year. State Senator Bob Dutton was the Senate Republican Leader last year, and […]

]]>A new legislation is circulating that is taking after New York legislation in New York City that requires fingerprinting for food stamps. The new law was put up from a Republican lawmaker and would change a law that was just created last year. State Senator Bob Dutton was the Senate Republican Leader last year, and he now wants to fingerprint Californians who participate in the food stamps program, CalFresh. He says that this new program is “common sense.” The requirement was done away with last year, but now Dutton plans on bringing it back.

”The attempt is to try to make sure we have a program that the resources of that program actually get to the people that most need it,” Dutton stated. “So what we’re trying to do is eliminate some of the fraud and waste within the program itself. This program’s a good program, but there’s too much abuse with it.”

However, Democrat Assemblyman Felipe Fuentes disagrees and states that fingerprinting doesn’t prevent any kind of fraud with food stamps. Fuentes authored the law from last year that removed the fingerprinting requirement. His office continues to show that finger imaging doesn’t do anything but cause more issues and requires more funding than necessary. The questions that are being raised about fraudulent activity and waste are better suited for California state auditors and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, according to Fuentes.

The new bill was just introduced this week and will continue to make its round until approved in both Senate and the House in California. However, there are many citizens who are again outraged at this idea because of the stigma that it places upon those who need this money to live. Organizations that help low income families and homeless in California also state that fingerprinting deters people from getting food stamps when they need it the most.

The new legislation comes at a time when food stamps are receiving a lot of heat in the press. Recent budget cuts have cut back on funding for many programs, but Republican nominee Newt Gingrich has stirred the pot with recent remarks that food stamp participants can go to Hawaii with their benefit money. These remarks are ridiculous and unfounded in the eyes of many families who use food stamps for the right reasons: providing a good meal that you wouldn’t otherwise have.

”I don’t get it. They want to make it more difficult to use benefits in the one program that directly effects how an American lives,” Nancy Scholtz stated. Scholtz is the director of Lending Hand in Los Angeles, an organization dedicated to providing food to needy families and the homeless. Scholtz believes that fingerprinting would create a problem for many who don’t want to wait in the long lines to get food stamps or have to give their fingerprints in order to get government benefits due to the stigma.

Fingerprinting isn’t new to California. Before last year, it was required that you needed to be fingerprinted for both CalFresh and CalWORKS, the state’s welfare program. The recent year hasn’t led to many changes in fraud, but there are certain leaders in both Senate and House that want to see the numbers going down for obvious reasons. It would save the state a lot of money if they could prevent food stamp fraud. However, fingerprinting may simply not be the way to achieve a solution.

]]>https://foodstamps.org/Blog/ID/42/fingerprints-required-again-in-california-for-food-stamps/feed0States Place Strict Asset Limits on Aid Applicantshttps://foodstamps.org/Blog/ID/38/states-place-strict-asset-limits-on-aid-applicants
https://foodstamps.org/Blog/ID/38/states-place-strict-asset-limits-on-aid-applicants#respondMon, 09 Jul 2018 14:44:35 +0000http://localhost/wordpress/?p=976States have moved away from requiring strict assets to qualify for food stamps. However, recently states have been resuming old practices and requiring asset limits to determine who can receive aid. Last year, Michigan made it harder for thousands of food stamp participants to be eligible for food stamps. The new limits placed restrictions on […]

]]>States have moved away from requiring strict assets to qualify for food stamps. However, recently states have been resuming old practices and requiring asset limits to determine who can receive aid. Last year, Michigan made it harder for thousands of food stamp participants to be eligible for food stamps. The new limits placed restrictions on what people could own. Pennsylvania also recently changed its asset test to make it harder to receive aid, placing new restrictions on those who currently receive government help.

The new restrictions are supposed to decide who is truly needy and also started after budget cuts left the states strapped for cash. There are also thousands of new participants in federal programs due to the unemployment across the country and recent downfall of the economy. State leaders suggest that the limitations are to protect citizens and provide more assistance to families who really have nothing.

”We’re asking tough things, but we had a huge budget deficit and we had to work through that,” Republican Michigan Governor Rick Snyder stated. “We always try to help the people in the greatest need.”

However, the new restrictions have left burdens on many families that fall between the cracks, such as Renee Moore, who owned a 2010 Buick Enclave that was too much to get by the new limits in Michigan. With less than $1,000 in the bank and a Ford Explorer with 300,000 miles, the Buick Enclave is the family’s only valuable car. Her Buick Enclave cost the family two months without food stamps.

Advocates for poor families have fought the limits in both states, and while the limits have been changed to accommodate more assets, they are still harsh and threaten thousands of families to be at a loss for any aid that would greatly benefit them. In Michigan, families like the Moores were stuck in the lull as lawmakers decided how much was too much to own.

The limits were just changed this past fall. Originally, recipients were not allowed to have more than $5,000 in the bank or own cars that were worth more than $15,000. That’s when Moore, her husband and her children lost the $419 in monthly food assistance because of the Buick Enclave that they inherited from Renee’s mother, who had died.

Moore is in college, currently pursuing an associate’s degree and internship to get a job. Her husband Is working in the construction industry but has seen fewer and fewer jobs. The loss of assistance for several months just created an even bigger problem. Moore says that she doesn’t want the government’s help and that she is trying to get her own job, but right now it is the only way that the family survives.

Michigan has decided to let families exclude one vehicle and apply for food stamps as long as their second vehicle is also not worth more than $15,000 and they don’t have more than $5,000 in assets. The Moores along with about 1,500 households were able to qualify again for aid after the guideline was alleviated.

The new regulations in Pennsylvania will take effect May 1st, which means that households will not be able to have more than $5,000 in eligible assets, which includes checking and saving accounts and cash on hand, boats or planes. One car and a home are excluded, as are life insurance policies and pension plans, family savings accounts and personal property.

]]>https://foodstamps.org/Blog/ID/38/states-place-strict-asset-limits-on-aid-applicants/feed0Lottery Winner or Not, Mom Still Wants Food Stampshttps://foodstamps.org/Blog/ID/39/lottery-winner-or-not-mom-still-wants-food-stamps
https://foodstamps.org/Blog/ID/39/lottery-winner-or-not-mom-still-wants-food-stamps#respondMon, 09 Jul 2018 14:44:05 +0000http://localhost/wordpress/?p=974Last year, a woman in Detroit, Michigan won the lottery for $1 million dollars, but she wasn’t going to give up on the food assistance program. While she did take home $500,000 after taxes, she blames bad money management. Needless to say, her claims made her national news this past week and not in a […]

]]>Last year, a woman in Detroit, Michigan won the lottery for $1 million dollars, but she wasn’t going to give up on the food assistance program. While she did take home $500,000 after taxes, she blames bad money management. Needless to say, her claims made her national news this past week and not in a good light. Of course, it’s easy for people to see why she shouldn’t be on food stamps. How can she still ask for assistance with $500,000 in the bank?

The Michigan Department of Human Services on Wednesday said Amanda Clayton would not be receiving $200 in monthly benefits anymore. The decision followed a report from NBC News station in Detroit, which did an interview with the 24-year-old Clayton, who acknowledged still receiving food stamps since her lottery win last September. The news outraged many who rely on food stamps, as well as others who saw the woman taking advantage of the system.

Clayton explained later that she is unemployed and has an incredible amount of bills, which account for the continued aid. “I thought they would cut me off, but since they didn’t I thought maybe it was OK because I’m not working,” Clayton told WDIV-TV, the NBC news station in Detroit. “I feel that it’s OK because I have no income, and I have bills to pay. I have two houses.”

Her mother also agreed that her daughter didn’t break any law by accepting food stamps after she won the lottery. She even told Detroit news that her daughter only received half of the million dollars after taxes and opting for a lump sum payment. However, her mother said that Clayton used that money to buy a new house and car.

To many, it’s a strange idea that she would buy another house when she already has one and spend most of her $500,000 earnings while still relying on food stamps. It’s not the best way to spend your money. Furthermore, Clayton does have two children to support, which also comes into the mix, but is it enough bills to really continue to rely on food assistance?

The real problem seems to be that Clayton doesn’t know how to manage her money, and for that reason, she was lampooned by many conservatives and even accused of illegal activity for continuing to accept government money while winning a million dollars. Legislation at the state level requires that lottery or other gambling winnings be reported to determine eligibility. The legislation comes after a man in Bay County continued to receive food stamps despite winning $2 million in 2010.